Although it's rarely spoken of in such terms, June through August is "the rainy season" in the Northland. There is a higher concentration of rain during these three months than any others. As July goes, rainfall is currently looking very average while the temps are only slightly lower than usual.
Hot days could still be ahead, though. Despite summer still in full swing, a few birds are already prepping for migration. On the flip side of that, a select few birds are still singing like it's spring. Red-eyed vireos are the most audible of these late singers. "They have a very continuous, monotonous song," says Larry Weber. "They have a tendency to keep right on singing and singing and singing when many of the other birds have stopped.
At this late point in July, the dragonflies are still lingering, and they're now joined by damsel flies. Although they look different enough, their wing positions are another way to tell them apart. When grounded, dragonflies will keep their wings out to the sides, whereas damsel flies will fold them back so as to be parallel with their bodies.
You can hear Backyard Almanac every Friday at 8:20am on Northland Morning.
